The human was one of the ones often called the "slower sorts". Those in the village were not exactly kind to them, either. In the Inn where they lived and worked, when they saw Bibrid and Gikka, they smiled saying 'draggies!", and went to cuddle with the two as the weather was cold and damp, and their only other bed was a hay-pile on the floor near the wood bin, and a rough, old, small piece of burlap for a cover. -- Anon Guest
The one they called Slow Loryss was the speediest young man in the village. They called him 'slow' because he wasn't very bright. Though fully grown, he retained the faithful innocence of a small child. And a lot of the temperament, absent-mindedness, and reluctance to eat vegetables.
Greatfather Langeven gifted him something each Midwinterfeast, just in case you were wondering.
The gifts never lasted, because the people around Loryss were... well. Censorable body parts. He didn't have any true family to care for him and the rest of the township didn't have the patience to try understanding him. Or dealing with him at all, if they could help it.
They let the newcomers deal with him. And vice-versa.
Perhaps the goal was to get the strangers angry at Loryss and allow them to remove the problem he presented. They didn't get what they wanted. Not exactly.
Loryss greeted the wandering Adventurers with a gleesome cry of "Draggies!" He rushed to Gikka and Bibrid, scooping them both up in eager arms. Laughing all the while. He danced and capered with them, kissing both the Kobold and the apparent Gnome on their foreheads. He cheered and finally put the two down as he noticed Wraithvine.
"Hello. You're pretty."
"Thank you," said Wraithvine. "I'm told you're our host here."
"Yeah! Yeah! We can play tea party and go-lookie and hopscotch." Loryss was bouncing on his toes. "And have a sleep-over too! It's allowed. Farmer Maes said yes. He was so happy, too. He's normally so grumpy."
"Farmer... Maes," repeated Bibrid.
"Yeah! He lets me sleep in the barn and I pull his wagon to market and I pull it back too 'cause of how his horse is sick. There's lots of straw and I can play with the dogs and the cats like to sleep on me sometimes. It smells but it's fun."
Bibrid, Gikka, and Wraithvine exchanged looks. They all said, We need to fix this.
But first, they had more important business. They played tea party, hopscotch, and go-lookie with Loryss. Wraithvine covertly transmuted Loryss' mouldy bread and cheese into cake and pudding, and turned the trough water in his cracked ewer into small ale.
It was an excellent party for someone with the capability of a small child.
Wraithvine let Loryss into hir tower, there to sleep with the company of Lilbit.
As for the town... they say a great dragon visited each and every house overnight. Threatened them with a fate worse than death if they chose another cruelty against one who could not understand it.
"He is a child," growled the dragon. "You will treat him as you would any other homeless child. As you should treat any other homeless child."
"Here's a list," said the tiny Kobold in amidst the larger dragon's spikes, tossing them a scroll.
That was when a nightmare appeared behind them and snarled, "Read. Obey. Or suffer."
The little town of Branchlie was a much better place for Slow Loryss ever after. Especially when it came to visits from Greatfather Langeven.
[Photo by Portia Weiss on Unsplash]
If you like my stories, please Check out my blog and Follow me. Or share them with your friends! Or visit my hub site to see what else I'm up to.
Send me a prompt [32 remaining prompts!]